Denture cleaner



Nov. 21, 1961 G. M. EBERLE DENTURE CLEANER Filed Feb. l1, 1960 ...fum w2.,?

f "a l 3,009,468 Patented Nov. 21, 1961 3,009,468 DENTURE CLEANER GeorgeM. Eberle, Rte. 3, Bellaire, Ohio Filed Feb. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 8,181Claims. (Cl. 134-93) This invention relates to a cleaning device andparticularly to a device in which dentures can be cleaned.

The cleaning of dentures is something which must be done regularly andthe cleaning should be carried out thoroughly which includes not onlyremoving food particles and the like therefrom but also sterilizing ordisinfecting the dentures.

Heretofore dentures have been brushed and soaked in a cleaning solutionbut this is time consuming and requires an additional container in whichthe dentures can be placed for the soaking operation.

The present invention proposes an arrangement for making the cleaning ofdentures extremely simple but whereby -an extremely etiicient cleaningcan be had in a very short time.

This invention :also proposes an arrangement in which dentures can beplaced for a rapid and efficient cleaning operation with the devicebeing of such a nature that it can be stored in an out of the way place.

This invention further proposes an arrangement for effecting rapidcleaning of the dentures by use of water under pressure which thoroughlybathes the entire surface of the dentures with the arrangement alsoproviding for the laddition of a sterilizing chemical to the water.

The exact nature of this invention will become more apparent uponreference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective View of ya device according to my inventionpartly broken away and partly disassenrbled;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view in about the plane indicated byline 2-2 on FIGURE l but with the device closed and showing in generalthe flow of water through the device during a cleaning operation;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view indicated by line 3-3 on FIGURE 2 showingthe manner in which a water soluble wafer of a sterilizing chemical canbe inserted into the device for a cleaning operation;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view showing the manner in which the two partsof the device latch together when closed and also showing a seal elementextending about the parting line of the device to prevent leakage ofthel water therefrom;

FIGURE 5 is 'a sectional view indicated by line 5 5 on FIGURE 2 showinga clamp arrangement for attaching the device to -a faucet; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view indicated by line 6-6 on FIGURE 2 showing ahinge connecting the two parts of the device together.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, the deviceillustrated in FIGURES l and 2 comprise a case having two parts 10 and12. Part ltl has a member 14 attached to the "back thereof which iswedge shaped so that it can be received in a wedge shaped socket 16mounted on wall 18. This provides an easy manner of supporting thedevice in an out o-f the way place when it is not in use but so that itwill be readily available any time.

Part 10 has projecting portions 20 on the bottom receivable between theprojecting portions 22 on the bottom of part 12 to form a hingestructure between the two parts which is completed by pins 24 extendingthrough the parts Ztl' and 22.

The two parts define a substantial cavity therebetween when closed. Thiscavity may be made substantially waterftight by the provision of a lipor rib 26 extending about the face of part 10 which is receivable in acorrespondingly shaped groove 28 in part 12. In the bottom of the groove28 there is a rubber-like seal element 30 engageable by lip or rib 26.Any suitable means may be provided for latching the two parts in theirclosed position such las the vfingers 32 extending from the uppercorners o-f part 12 that are adapted for snapping into notches 34 formedin the upper corners of part 10.

According -to this invention there is a perforated shell 36 in thecavity in part 10 and a perforated shell 38 in the cavity in part 12.These shells have cle-arance about all sides of the cavities in whichthey are located except the bottoms thereof and may be attached to thebottom Walls of the cavities -by the rivets 40.

When the device is closed :as in FIGURE 2 the shells form an enclosurewithin the larger enclosure formed by parts 10 and 12.

This space within the shells 36 and 38 is for receiving the dentureswhich are to be cleaned. Means are provided for supporting the denturesin spaced relation to the walls by the projections 42 formed in part 10and projections 44 in part 112.

These projections extend inwardly from the inner walls of the parts andextend through the shells at the sides thereof and may provide some ofthe support for the shells.

As will be seen particularly in FIGURE 2 shell 38 has a recess 46 ofsubstantial size formed therein which extends inwardly so that it is atleast partially surrounded by the lower denture which is the one that isplaced in shell 38.

The entire shell, including recess 46 is provided with perforations 48so that when the inside of the device in the region outside the shellsis pressured by Ia supply of water thereto, there will be a plurality ofjets projected inwardly in substantially all directions against thesurface of the dentures thereby providing for strong and overall washingaction.

The supply of water into the inside of the device is accomplished by anipple 50 which may be of a rubberlike material and which is attached toan aperture 52 formed in the top wall of part 10i. the nipple is formedoutwardly and rivets 54 extend through the turned out portion andthrough the part 10 and also through a perforated plate 56 thatover-lies the lower end of the nipple. The nipple is surrounded by amanual clamp 58 so that the clamp can be opened thereby permitting thenipple to be slipped on a faucet 60 whereupon t-he clamp can be closedand the connection between the faucet and the nipple will then becomesubstantially leak-proof.

The perforated plate 56 is utilized for supporting a disinfecting waferA62 that can be dropped into the nipple before it is placed on thefaucet and which will dissolve in the water passing through the nipplewhereby the dentures are sterilized simultaneously with being washed.

Water is drained in the bottom of the device through an aperture 64which is in about the center so that t-he water entering the device atthe top must pass inwardly through the apertures in shells 36 and 3-8before it emerges from the device.

It will be understood that the invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions; and,accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within thisinvention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a device for cleaning dentures; a case comprising first and secondparts hinged together at the bottom and there being seal means extendingabout the parting line of the device so when the parts are closedtogether the case will be water tight, said seal means comprising a Thelower end ofgroove in ythe edge of one of said parts, a resilientelement in the bottom of the groove, and a tongue on the other said partadapted to enter said groove and engage said resilient element when thecase is closed, conduit means at the top of one of the palts forsupplying water to the inside of the case under pressure, a pair ofperforated shells one in each part of the case adapted for closingtogether when the case is closed to form a perforated enclosure withinthe case, said shells being attached to the bottoms of the parts of saidcase and having clearance from the other walls of the case wherebypressurizing of the interior of the case by a supply of water theretowill cause a plurality of jets to be projected inwardly of said shells,means for supporting the dentures within the said shells, and drainmeans extending from the inside of said shells through the bottom ofsaid case, said conduit means being adapted for connection with theoutlet of a faucet to support the said device thereon while water issupplied to the device from the faucet.

2. In a device for cleaning dentures; a case comprising -rst and secondparts hinged together at the bottom and there being seal means extendingabout the parting line of the device so when the parts are closedtogether the case will be water tight, said seal means comprising agroove in the edge of one of said parts, a resilient element in thebottom of the groove, and a tongue on the other said part adapted toenter said groove and engage said resilient element when the case isclosed, conduit means at the top of one of the parts for supplying waterto the inside of the case under pressure, a pair of perforated shellsone in each part of the case adapted for closing together when the caseis closed to form a per forated enclosure within the case, said shellsIbeing attached to the bottoms of the part-s of said case and havingclearance from the other walls of the case whereby pressurizing of theinterior of the case by a supply of water thereto will cause a pluralityof jets to be projected inwardly of said shells, means for supportingthe dentures within the said shells, and drain means extending from theinside of said shells through the bottom of said case, said conduitmeans being adapted for connection with the outlet of a faucet tosupport the said device thereon while water is supplied to the devicefrom the faucet, said first and second parts having elements of areleasable latch thereon to hold the case closed.

3. In a device for cleaning dentures; a pair of concave perforated shellelements adapted for being brought together in substantially edge toedge relation to form an enclosure, means in the shell elements adaptedfor supporting dentures to be cleaned, one of said shell elements havinga recessed region in its outer wall adapted for projecting into thespace between the sides of a lower denture, a case comprising twohingedly interconnected parts surrounding said shell elements in spacedrelation to the tops, sides, and backs of the shell elements butconnected with the shell elements at the bottoms thereof thereby formingan enclosure around the shell elements, means for supplying water underpressure to the inside of the case, and means for draining water fromthe inside of the shell elements through the bottom of the case, andsaid means for supporting dentures in said shell elements comprisingportions on said case extending through the shell elements.

4. In a device for cleaning dentures; a pair of perforated shellelements adapted for being brought together in substantially edge toedge relation to form an enclosure, said shell elements being adaptedfor supporting dentures to be cleaned, a case comprising two hingedlyconnected parts surrounding said shell elements in spaced relation tothe tops, sides, and backs of the shell elements but connected with theshell elements at the bottoms thereof thereby forming an enclosurearound the shell elements, means for supplying water under pressure tothe inside of said case, and means for draining water from the inside ofthe shell elements through the bottom of the case, said means forsupplying water under pressure to the inside of the case comprising anipple member extending upwardly from the top of one part of the case, ascreen element adjacent the bottom of the nipple through which the watersupplied to the case passes, and said screen element being adapted forreceiving a wafer of a water soluble sterilizing chemical which willdissolve in the water passing through the screen whereby as the waterscrubs the dentures within the shells the said dentures are alsosterilized.

5. A device for cleaning dentures according to claim 4 in which the saidnipple member is exible and is adapted for detachable connection with afaucet or the like for supporting the device thereon during a denturecleaning operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,244,301 Legore June 3, 1941 2,624,899 Smith Jan. 13, 1953 2,659,380Jackson Nov. 17, 1953 2,669,243 Reynolds et al Feb. 16, 1954 2,714,443Kuvin Aug. 2, 1955 2,721,567 Tierney Oct. 25, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS856,941 Germany Nov. 24, 1952

